This is our all-important quick reference framework for reducing the chance of an accident. Also check below for our updated tips for each week.
March 2018:
1/3/18: Be very aware when skiing on high, cold, steep N'ish facing slopes where the best quality snow will be found this week. It's also where most of the wind slab are, and will be, forming on top of a layer of unconsolidated facets or 'sugar snow'.
February 2018:
15/2/18: As snow and weather conditions evolve, keep an eye on our HAT Facebook updates for info on latest snow stability
7/2/18: The snowpack is broadly stable but there are pockets of risk in localised areas. These are mostly where you find windblown fresh snow creating a new slab. Keep an eye on the wind, look for these slabs, these often have the best snow, but carry some risk so you have to judge how safe it is using the HAT checlist and guidance.
1/2/18: Look out for recent avalanche activity, see which slopes are releasing and how much snow is involved. Observe the glide cracks. As snow and weather conditions evolve, keep an eye on our HAT Facebook updates for info on latest snow stability.
January 2018:
25/1/18: Observe the recent avalanche activity. This shows you which slopes might release, how big the releases will be and volume of snow that might go.
18/1/18: The big topic this week is the weather. Any instability in snowpack this week will mainly be related to the continuing snow storms. We’ll be closely following this, and doing regular Facebook updates about snow stability. See www.facebook.com/HenrysAvalancheTalk
11/1/18: Just because the avalanche danger rating is 3, that doesn’t mean that it is safe everywhere. There are pockets of instability here and there. Check out our updates and learn what the avalanche danger rating definitions mean on henrysavalanchetalk.com/hat-advice/danger-rating.
4/1/18: Keep checking regular weather and avalanche risk updates for your ski area, and follow the advice of local authorities i.e. road closures, security around AND in buildings so you don’t end up with a load of snow on your bed or worse! Excellent local information sources are your local radio station, and the piste patrol services.
28/12/17: The best way to stay safe off-piste over the next few days is to track how much fresh snow falls, and keep an eye on the avalanche danger ratings. Once the danger rating goes to 3 and above, adjust your skiing accordingly. In particular stick to slopes of 30° or less, unless you really know what you're doing, and remember about the increased danger on those high N facing slopes, where the snowpack is still unconsolidated.
21/12/17: Keep it safe and keep applying risk assessment and reduction methods. You can greatly reduce the chances of having an accident (and have more fun) off-piste with our simple downloadable Off-Piste checklist.
14/12/17:Meteo France are now producing their daily avalanche bulletins. Check them out before you go off-piste on www.meteofrance.com/previsions-meteo-montagne/bulletin-avalanches.
Previous tips of the week 2016/17
See our basic framework of risk assessment and reduction methods in our previous blog: www.henrysavalanchetalk.com/off-piste-quick-reference. Even if you don’t apply all the methods perfectly, you’re going to be way safer than if you don’t apply them at all!
A Simple Framework for Reducing the Chance of an Accident
An 'Off-Piste-checklist-Quick-Reference'
Research has shown that checklists work to reduce errors that lead to accidents in many risk professions and endeavours. Once you have some training (for example on subjects outlined in our 'Essentials' Talk), a checklist or framework that you can refer to can help to reduce avalanche accidents in off-piste skiing. Many accidents can be avoided if you use a framework that helps you to consistently pay attention to simple observable clues and information from the environment, as well as, clues from people around you. The same is true in risk professions such as surgery and the military.
To increase your safety, you don't need to be perfect, just follow this off piste checklist and quick reference on a regular basis - review it the night before, in the morning before you head out and several times during the day. It will help you make decisions based on facts and things you can see rather than on distractions like 'powder fever' for example.
So Henry has made this 'Off-Piste-checklist-Quick-Reference' available not only as a quick review of the 'Essentials', but also as a simple way for you and your friends to apply what you have learned, have fun and be safe! You can greatly reduce the chances of having an accident (and have more fun) off-piste with this simple downloadable 'Off-Piste checklist-Quick-Reference' A5 card.
Learn how to get your timings right when skiing spring snow. See this blog post henrysavalanchetalk.com/ski-smooth-tips-spring-skiing-off-piste. Get it right, and you'll find some lovely skiing conditions. You can even apply this to on-piste skiing!
Get out there whatever the weather looks like first thing in the morning. There are bound to be some clear spells that you won't want to miss! From our experience, there's always lots of room on safe slopes when a sudden clearing appears... and if no clear spell happens... well, you can always go back down or ski in safe areas of the trees.
Watch out for steep N'ish facing slopes (NE through N to NW). These will be particularly unstable for the next few days.
Watch out on steep N facing slopes. This is where the best snow is to be found, but also where the most instability will be if we get much fresh on top of that weak layer of "sugar snow".
If you intend to ski a steep pitch, ask yourself: “If this slope should avalanche, what will happen to us?”
Watch out for terrain traps (troughs, cliffs, holes, trees, lake….). Holes and gullies or anywhere the snow could pile up; cliffs that you could fall off; lakes that you could end up in. These hazards mean that the consequences of an avalanche will be much more severe.
See report on Tignes avalanche accident
Look out for slopes where there has been recent avalanche activity, and avoid similar slopes of a similar direction.
Play close attention to the official avalanche bulletins. See here to find the bulletin in your area http://www.avalanches.org/eaws/en/main.php
As the avalanche danger diminishes we tend to get more complacent. So remember to apply our Off-Piste Checklist. This will reduce your chances of having an accident (and help you to have more fun): www.henrysavalanchetalk.com/off-piste-quick-reference. Avalanche risk 2 means moderate with specific risks in specific places. Read the bulletin to see where those risks exist
Download the Meteo Ski app to your phone. It will give you fast access to the Meteo France weather forecast for all French resorts and even more importantly, you will get immediate, easy access to the avalanche bulletins without having to fight with the Meteo France website. The app is refreshingly lacking in adverts and seems to be focused on what the off piste skier needs.
Check your insurance covers you for off piste with or without a guide and without undue restrictions. You can read more about how to be sure you are covered click here

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Our HAT off-piste article is a short introduction to how to stay safe and have more fun off piste. We have noticed that when people discover the off-piste they love their skiing even more. But for many skiers the off-piste can seem like a scary and inaccessible place
The article demystifies the knowledge held by off-piste guides and instructors. It is no substitute for real experience and training by professionals. But it is a great place to start your voyage of discovery. Armed with this knowledge you will be intelligently inquisitive about avalanche danger. You will begin to know what you don’t know and what you need to learn.
Just like our introduction talk, the article is divided into 4 sections
Introduction to off-piste and avalanches
Where you go and when
How you go down or up
Being well prepared

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type.

You don't have to come to our events in order to see Henry's Avalanche Talks. We have created a series of online presentations that allow you to learn how you can stay safe and have more fun off piste.
Start with the Essentials talk
A series of 4 talks. Watch Part 1 here for free
Click here to see the rest. £20 for 6 months unlimited access.
Then move on to the In-depth modules
How and why avalanches trigger - helping you to identify the implications for your decision-making
Where you go and when - where to find the best snow and still stay safe
How you go down or up -route selection make sure you and your group are safe, choose the best line
The Human Factor - why is this the biggest cause of accidents. How we often fail to apply what we know
Click here to see all 4 modules
Also get some avalanche transceiver training
This video offers 20 minutes practical training on how to use your avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe to recover an avalanche victim in under 15 minutes
Click here to purchase

Contrary to popular belief, Lorem Ipsum is not simply random text. It has roots in a piece of classical Latin literature from 45 BC, making it over 2000 years old. Richard McClintock.

Mixed weather ahead with sunshine, cloud, and some snowfall Off-piste snow report: 15 – 21 March for Savoie & Northern French Alps Skiing in Pays Deserts 14th March 2018 There are still some excellent off-piste conditions around. Especially when temperatures are low, there is some wonderful cold, dry, light powder snow to be found. As the day warms up, this may become humidified and heavier to ski. In exposed high mountain areas the surface snow has often been wind-... Read More

Milder temperatures and some snowfall up high Off-piste snow report: 8 – 14 March for Savoie & Northern French Alps The quality and quantity of off-piste snow above 1600 m remains great! As we set off first thing, the surface snow is often cold and light. Unfortunately, with rising temperatures over the next few days, it will become more humidified and could be quite crunchy (depending on how much overnight refreeze we get). In wind-affected areas, such as near moun... Read More

Milder cloudy days ahead, with light snowfall Off-piste snow report: 1 – 7 March for Savoie & Northern French Alps We’re continuing to find some excellent off-piste conditions. With recent ‘arctic-like’ temperatures, there has been some wonderfully light powder snow to be found. With much milder temperatures forecast over the next few days, we’ll be aiming towards the higher, colder north facing slopes to find the best conditions. However, we... Read More

Very cold, with a lot of snowfall near the French/Italian border Off-piste snow report: 22 – 28 Feb for Savoie & Northern French Alps Snow depths remain fantastic this season. There’s still some great off-piste skiing to be found above 1500 m or so. With continuing low temperatures, there’s some incredible cold light powder snow out there. And it will remain very cold at least until next week…. When venturing off-piste, we’ve been finding som... Read More

Milder temperatures, cloudy and unsettled with some snowfall Off-piste snow report: 15 – 21 Feb for Savoie & Northern French Alps Snow depths are still extremely good, and probably will be so until the end of season and beyond. There’s currently still some fantastic powder snow to be found. Unfortunately, as it gets milder from Thursday afternoon onwards, the snow will become heavier and more humidified, particularly at altitudes below 2000 m. It will be a lot... Read More

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Mixed weather ahead with sunshine, cloud, and some snowfall Off-piste snow report: 15 - 21 March for Savoie & Northern French Alps Skiing in Pays Deserts 14th March 2018 There are still some excellent off-piste conditions around. Especially when temperatures are low, there is some wonderful cold, dry, light powder snow to be found. As the day warms up, this may become humidified and heavier to ski. [ 744 more words ]